Photo taken in the Baldy Mountain Roadless area at about 7000 feet (Photo taken in October, 2013)

Rock Lake in western Montana’s Cabinet Mountains Wilderness (Photo taken in August, 2013)

Thanks to the knowledge and skill of a brilliant orthopedic surgeon and his surgery team, an excellent hospital staff and the ongoing effort of a superb physical therapist, I will, in a few more months, be able to again visit places like those in the above photos. For the technology and the people who make it all work I am very thankful!

I am very grateful also for all of the good wishes and encouragement from all of you who have visited and participated in my blog. It has meant very much to me. Thank all of you!

I’m now able to sit at the computer for more than a couple of minutes at a time and will be able to slowly begin responding and visiting all of you again and resume posting on Montana Outdoors. I expect that it will be into July before I can post new photos taken on any new forays into Montana’s wild places, but there are plenty of un-used photos in my library that I will post in the interim.

Thank you Vivian. I am so thankful to have a second chance to spend my time in the beauty of the wild country and bring photos and stories back for everyone to see. It’s a wonderful world that we have to live in!

so happy to hear that you are happy with your knee replacement, promises of wandering in your new future when the world overflows with color and life!
it is wonderful to see these images that hold much more color than my white world with fresh snow today.

Thanks Tammie. I am simply joyful that I will again be able to visit the beautiful back country that surrounds us. We have had only traces of snow in the air here, but the higher mountains around have received new snow just about evey night lately.

Thanks Jo. One of the most difficult things about re-hab is having the patience to understand that it happens at its own pace and I can only help the process. It is slow but steady and by late summer I will again be on the high trails.

Thanks! You’re right about not rushing. The re-hab is a gradual process. The body though has a built-in warning system: if I overdo a bit it gets quite stiff and sends me a clear message to back off a bit.

Thanks Candace! It has been (and still is) an amazing experience. I typically have a lot of reservations about the process of technology and all of the places that it tends to take us, but there are clearly huge benefits to the advancements in medical technology.

I was just hinking last night about how much I miss your posts, seeing your adventures. And here you are! I’m so glad. It’s good to see the world again through your eyes. So glad for your recovery and ever onward to the mountains in July.

Thanks Teresa! I am so happy to be back and I plan to use my second chance well to visit the beautiful wild places and display scenec from them for everyone else to see. I will be grateful for every step I take!

Love the images above. The Spring Creek photo is particularly lovely as you seem to have caught a few sparkles from the sun. Just the right shutter speed too. I find some waterfalls or rocky stream images have the shutter speed just a wee bit too slow and the water flow looses all reality (in its smooth lines). I think you’ve got it just right. Looks to be about 1/30-1/40? Was my guess close?

It’s such a delight to have you back with us, along with your marvelous photos. You have been missed. It’s good to know that you’re well along the path of recovery. The hiking will happen in due time. As you’ve mentioned before, you have plenty in your archives to keep us amused while you’re regaining your strength and agility.

Thanks! This has been an amazing adventure and I’m so thankful that it has been possible. I am very grateful for your support and that of so many others as well. In the crazy world of today there is nothing that even comes close to the experience possible through blogging!

Thanks Jewel! I have plenty of archives, but I’m anxious to see if I still remember how to take pictures. I did get a photo of a buttercup a few days ago, but from a position that certainly wasn’t a thing of beauty! Spring is struggling to take over here right now, and the variety it brings is something really special.

Thanks for leaving a comment Benny! We have had a real winter this year and our mountains are covered in deep snow (about 150% of the normal). I’ll be ready to visit them by the time that snow finally melts!

Hi Montucky, I really cheered when your comment showed up on my blog this AM! I had been checking your blog pretty regularly for new posts – so happy you are doing pretty well and will be up and at ’em hiking this Summer. Good! Have a pleasant afternoon and a wonderful day tomorrow!